VPR and Vermont PBS are rebranding as the television, radio, and digital platform will now be known as Vermont Public after officially merging last year. Furthermore, this move reflects the cooperative mission of the state’s public media organization.

“Our new name pays homage to our past while signaling a new mission for the future,” President and CEO Scott Finn said in a press release relayed by Radio Insight. 

“Across TV, radio, and digital platforms, we will engage a broader and more diverse audience through stories that bring our community together.”

Over the last year, Vermont Public has researched with the public, staff, and board of directors to understand better the needs, perceptions, opportunities, and challenges for public media in Vermont.

Furthermore, the rebranded name and graphic identity are now live at vermontpublic.org and on its broadcast channels, stations, and digital platforms.

“We’ve been here to engage, inform, and inspire Vermonters for more than fifty years,” according to Marguerite Dibble, the incoming board chair. “And that won’t change. Our core audience will continue to see and hear all the things they love.”

“Their support and loyalty have shaped who we are today. And as the needs of our community evolve, and the media landscape shifts, we want to broaden access for all voices to participate, from every corner of our unique state.”

A war of words erupted on Twitter this weekend between two giants in the media industry. The online war of words between Dave Portnoy and radio host Dan Bongino began after the Barstool founder posted a video reaction Friday following the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

In a video titled, “Emergency press conference,” Portnoy sounded off about the issue which caught the attention of Dan Bongino. “Horrifyingly uninformed and ridiculous take. Embarrassed you would put this out there,” the Fox News host said.

The Supreme Court’s decision does not make abortion illegal nationwide as the decision now is handed back over to the states which can now choose to ban it. However, abortion is now illegal or heavily restricted in at least 11 states.

“This was to be expected, but I still get a kick out of people who have sucked my d**k for a decade straight, invited me on their shows a million times, and now disagree with me on RoeVsWade, and suddenly I’m a p****y and idiot,” Portnoy posted. 

Bongino would respond to the post, saying, “I still get a kick out of defending people like this p—-y against the same lib lunatics he desperately craves the acceptance of. It’s called “principles” chump. Try it sometime. Go put your dog chain back on dips–t.”

“Appears the only people doing that for you are wearing dog callers. Go get your leash chump. Bow wow,” Bongino added.

Syndicated radio host and author Ben Shapiro suggested that an endorsement from former President Donald Trump is not the golden ticket it’s portrayed to be.

During his show on Wednesday, Shapiro said Trump may hold power over the Republican party but when it comes to local political races, there are other factors at play.

“So, there’s a difference between Donald Trump endorsing a person, which I don’t think has a lot of power. And Donald Trump is destroying people,” Shapiro said via Mediate.

“He (Trump) actually talked about how Brian Kemp was terrible and horrible and no good and very bad. And Brian Kemp won because he had earned the loyalty of the Republican voting base in Georgia, despite Trump’s anger at Brian Kemp.”

Shapiro concluded that “Trump does not have the sort of stranglehold the media thinks he has on the Republican Party.” 

Recently, Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz is one Trump-endorsed candidate that has backed away from the former president.

An Axios analysis of Oz’s social media and campaign website uncovered that the Republican candidate is no longer lauding his Trump endorsement ahead of the midterm elections this fall.